Title: Non-family employees in small family business succession: the case of psychological ownership

Authors: Sari Savolainen; Juha Kansikas

Addresses: Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 JyU, Finland. ' Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014 JyU, Finland

Abstract: This study is analysing non-family employees' perceptions on psychological ownership during the family business succession process. Three small family companies were chosen for the multiple case studies. The results of this study show that non-family employees are participating on the small family business succession and they do possess a strong psychological ownership towards the family business, their own work, and the founder generation. Non-family employees recognise the changing management and leadership in successions. Non-family employees' psychological ownership increases in succession. This has got influence on commitment and well being in unique way according to personal characteristics of a non-family employee.

Keywords: business succession; family business; psychological ownership; non-family employees; family firms; small firms; entrepreneurship; commitment; well being.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2013.050936

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.9 No.1, pp.64 - 81

Published online: 30 Jan 2014 *

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